A Method That Captures Cell Growth And Activity Highlighted By Cold Spring Harbor Protocols

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Genetics;  Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 02 Nov 2007 - 2:00 PDT

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This month's issue of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols/ features a cutting-edge method that provides a snapshot of growth and activity patterns in mixed populations of cells. Click here to view the protocol which is freely accessible online.

Written by Ingrid Schmid, a scientist at UCLA (http://cyto.mednet.ucla.edu/), the protocol involves taking a population of cells and labeling their nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and cell-surface proteins with specific dyes. Then, using a technique called flow cytometry, scientists can determine the DNA and RNA content of the cells. This allows them to identify the cell-cycle stage of each cell, which provides insight into patterns of cell growth and activity in the population. For example, they can identify which sub-populations of cells are actively dividing and which are not.

Schmid and her colleagues have used the procedure to characterize specific sub-populations of cells in human blood that are involved in the immune response.

This month's issue of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols also includes the related classic technique for the quantification of DNA and RNA in solutions. This essential and routine procedure is used in virtually every laboratory. Click here to view the protocol which is also freely accessible online.

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About Cold Spring Harbor Protocols: Cold Spring Harbor Protocols (http://www.cshprotocols.org/) is an online resource of methods used in a wide range of biology laboratories. It is structured to be highly interactive, with each protocol cross-linked to related methods, descriptive information panels, and illustrative material to maximize the total information available to investigators. Each protocol is clearly presented and designed for easy use at the bench -- complete with reagents, equipment, and recipe lists. Life science researchers can access the entire collection via institutional site licenses, and can add their suggestions and comments to further refine the techniques.

About Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press is an internationally renowned publisher of books, journals, and electronic media, located on Long Island, New York. Since 1933, it has furthered the advance and spread of scientific knowledge in all areas of genetics and molecular biology, including cancer biology, plant science, bioinformatics, and neurobiology. It is a division of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, an innovator in life science research and the education of scientists, students, and the public. For more information, visit http://www.cshlpress.com/.

Source: Maria Smit
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

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